It’s one of my favourite sayings: When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.
I had the chance to do that last weekend with a lovely group of friends I used to work with at Victoria University Library. Our plans to walk 7km in the Remutaka Rail Trail Run & Walk fell through when the event was cancelled (I’m sure I don’t need to tell you the reason why!). So instead, I invited Sue, Jo-Anne, Catherine, Anais, Natalie and Bronwyn to the Card House for a “library ladies lunch”.
Although the weather forecast was good, the wind put paid to our plans to dine al fresco. Another lemon. So we pivoted (such a popular word these days!) to eat indoors. It was a good excuse to tidy up the dining room, which we mostly use to fold the washing and iron our clothes (that is, when Wanda hasn’t commandeered the ironing board as a bed). By the time everyone arrived, the scene was set for the dining room’s first sit-down meal since I moved in to the Card House nine months ago.
As we stood around the table laden with smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels, homemade salads, fresh fruit and Anais’s special chocolate brownie, someone suggested I say grace. I managed to mumble something meaningful about being grateful to enjoy good food with good friends, and we tucked in.
I’m proud to say we spent very little time talking shop (as librarians can be inclined to do!). With three of us no longer working at Victoria University, it was the perfect opportunity to reconnect and catch up. Of all the places I’ve worked, the Victoria University Library is one of those where I’ve made the most friends. I hope we can do it again soon.
Anais stayed on for the weekend and we spent a relaxing time perusing the Greytown shops and chilling out at home. As we chatted over afternoon tea, we reflected on the interesting turns our lives have taken since we met at Victoria five years ago. Since then, we’ve supported each other through a variety of personal and professional challenges. And a good friendship provides not just emotional support, but practical too. Almost two years ago, I was looking for a flatmate at the time as Anais needed a new place to live. Ta da!
But back to the Card House. On Monday it was time to welcome yet more guests when Mione and Rose, who I went to school with in Ōtaki, dropped in at the tail end of their annual girls’ road trip.
We reconnected on Facebook some years ago, and Mione was the one who waited at the finish line for me when I ran/walk/hobbled the 30 kilometres it took to complete the 2019 Rarotonga Road Race. But it had been 35 years since Rose and I saw each other. Hopefully our next catch-up won’t be so far away.
Least you think I spend all my time hosting guests at the Card House, I have also done some work this week. Last month I became the new Arts Editor for the Featherston Phoenix, and it’s been thoroughly enjoyable getting back into some good old-fashioned community journalism. This month I’ve written about a new art gallery opening soon on Featherston’s main street and our local library’s Reading for Life Champion, Dan Keane, who is also a writer and teacher.
I guess having coffee with a new mentor also counts as work. Earlier this month I met local writer Pia Buck at a Wai Word meeting in Carterton. When we chatted afterwards she offered to meet me for coffee to discuss my first novel, a project I’ve taken some baby steps towards which are still feeling pretty wobbly.
Pia writes women’s fiction and romance novels under the pseudonym Melissa Crosby, and has self-published eight novels on Amazon. She’s warm, energetic and inspiring. The most important thing I gained from our meeting was the knowledge that “I can do it”, along with some practical tips on plotting and characterisation.
I’ve only read one of Pia’s books, Tea for Three, a tale of three women from different generations who come together to support each other through several major upheavals in their lives.
Underpinning the story is the power of good company that comes from supportive friendships.
I’ll raise a cup of tea to that.
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